Slowdown seems to be finally catching up with the search giant Google too. According to Valleywag, the days of free food are numbered at Google.

Googlers will no longer be able to enjoy free dinner, tea trolley and afternoon snack services. The free food has always been a key recruitment tool for Google. As the publication puts it, “Google has long milked its cafeterias for their publicity value; company executives have crowed about the company’s resistance to recessions and its commitment to coddling its employees. Founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin even promised shareholders they’d add perks, rather than cut them.”

In fact, Fortune named Google among the best places to work in 2007 with one of the key reasons being the free food which they attributed keeps employees happy and loyal. The announcement which could perhaps be made today will, however, retain free breakfast and lunch on the menu.

Sometime back, Google reportedly increased the fees for its in-house day care by almost 75 per cent. Also, at a TGIF meeting in June, the Google co-founder Sergey Brin reportedly said that he was tired of Googlers who felt entitled to perks like "bottled water and M&Ms." The comment, was, however, later denied by Google spokesman.

Adds, Valleywag, "the savings from cutting dinner, as well as some snacks, should be substantial. Employees often took their spouses and children out to dinner at the cafes — on shareholders' dime."